It does not all come down to this, but how the Giants fare Sunday night against the rival, rampaging Cowboys will go a long way in defining the stretch run of this season, and very possibly determine if the Giants get to keep playing after New Year’s Day.

No matter what happens at cold and wintry MetLife Stadium, the Giants will head into Week 15 holding onto an NFC wild-card slot. The result of this game will ascertain if that hold is firm or slippery.

The Cowboys (11-1) arrive with the best record in the NFL, and winning this game will allow them to clinch the NFC East title — a coronation the Giants prefer not happen on their home turf. The ’Boys arrive riding an 11-game winning streak, leaving behind that 20-19 opening loss to the Giants with a whirlwind string of success, relying on the exploits of their precocious rookies, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott — a young duo living in the lap of luxury as they feast within the protection of the best offensive line in the business.

“What are they, 11-1? And the one loss is against us?’’ said guard Justin Pugh, who is expected to miss his fifth straight game with a knee injury. “We know how to play them. We know them very well, so it will be an exciting to get back out there and go give them another loss.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than this. This is what you play for, for these games in December, meaningful games. If we want to be a playoff team we got to beat playoff teams, and they’re the best team in the NFL right now so we got to go out and beat them.’’

The Giants, after winning six consecutive games without gaining many style points — their offense even amid the winning was inconsistent at best, inefficient at worst — were humbled in Pittsburgh and now must play the rest of the regular season without star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul following surgery to repair a sports hernia.

“We have to rally around the defense like they’ve been rallying around us on offense and special teams for the entire year,’’ coach Ben McAdoo said. “Everyone needs to raise their game up a little bit to make up for the loss of JPP for who knows how long.’’

Before the Giants take the field, the NFC wild-card picture will come into clearer focus. The four teams sitting behind them in the playoff race all will have completed their games earlier in the day. The Giants at 8-4 hold the top wild-card spot, with the Buccaneers (7-5) sitting at No. 2. The pecking order could be in flux, with the Vikings and Packers both 6-6 and the Redskins 6-5-1. Two division leaders, the Lions (8-4) and Falcons (7-5), could be knocked out of first place in the final month and drop into the wild-card morass.

“There’s not much more you could ask for,’’ Odell Beckham Jr. said. “In the NFL, ‘Sunday Night Football,’ going against the Dallas Cowboys, it’s pretty much everything. It’s a lot of fun. It’s awesome to be in these moments and opportunities. Hopefully we come out and play our best.’’

Marquee matchup

Cowboys LT Tyron Smith vs. Giants DE Olivier Vernon

Smith has been banged up a bit this season and has allowed 12 quarterback pressures in 12 games, according to Pro Football Focus, which rates him as the sixth-best left tackle in the league. That is a step down from previous years, but make no mistake, the guy is a beast. This is the first game for Vernon without Jason Pierre-Paul on the other side, which means Vernon will attract all the extra attention the Cowboys want to send his way — if they deem Smith needs any help.

4 downs

Slot him in: No, the Giants are not going to unveil a dramatically different offensive approach that features Victor Cruz going back where he is most comfortable, running routes out of the slot. Cruz turned into a star receiver operating out of that inside position, a spot currently occupied by rookie Sterling Shepard.

Victor CruzAnthony J. Causi

“We like Shep’ inside,’’ Cruz told The Post. “Shep has done a good job, he’s warranted that position and he’s warranted to keep that spot. No one’s trying to come after that.’’

Still, it would behoove the Giants, struggling mightily on offense, to alter the formula and give Cruz (no targets last week in Pittsburgh) more looks in the slot.

“See if I can sneak in there a little bit and see what we can do,’’ he said. “It’s kind of under the radar but we’ll see.’’ If he lines up in the slot? “Act surprised,” Cruz said, smiling.

Youth is served: Sure, the Cowboys do not ask Dak Prescott to take many chances throwing the ball deep down the field. Still, the guy has thrown just two — two! — interceptions in 358 pass attempts.

“You saw all of those tools in the beginning, but I feel like he’s hit his stride. He understands what defenses are doing, he’s seen single-high and going to the right looks, he’s seen two-high and going to the right looks,’’ LB Jonathan Casillas said. “That’s an experienced quarterback. Maybe he didn’t show that week one. Now you’re seeing him step into the mold and take full control of this offense and to the necessary checks and get it to the right people and the right plays.’’

Time is on their side: No one looks at the Cowboys’ defense and sees a bunch of studs. They own the NFL’s second-best run defense, allowing just 82.3 yards per game, and allow just 19 points a game, but the strong belief is they are hard to score on because they are on the field so infrequently, thanks to a ball-hogging offense that has a time of possession of 32:03, second-best in the league.

“They definitely benefit,’’ Justin Pugh said.

In the season-opener, the Cowboys took the opening kickoff and took 6:37 off the clock on a field-goal drive.

“We didn’t come on the field until like six minutes to go in the first quarter,’’ Pugh said. “That’s definitely tough. We got to sustain drives on our own, make sure we get attempts at the plate, as coach Ben McAdoo always says.’’

Ben McAdooPaul J. Bereswill

No offense, but … Fans are growing restless or even disgusted with McAdoo’s offense — which is 26th in the league in yards gained and showing signs of regression, not progression.

“We’re going to make some adjustments, minor adjustments, but again, we’re not going to throw the baby out with the bath water,” McAdoo said. “We know we can win in this league. We’ve done it.’’

There are signs of mental fatigue from Odell Beckham Jr. and Cruz, and no real sense anything is getting solved or getting better.

“Our focus does not need to be on frustration,’’ McAdoo said. “That does not get anything done. That’s an immature, selfish way to act. That’s not going to help us.”

Paul’s pick

The Cowboys do not need to finish 15-1, and odds are they will not. They are rested and comfortable; the Giants are coming off a loss and reeling from the injury to Jason Pierre-Paul. Trends say Cowboys here, but the way it looks is not always the way it goes. It is hunch time.